Historically Speaking: Ice skating on the river

Friday

Dec 28, 2007 at 2:00 AM

Ice skating has been around for thousands of years. Although skating was originally practiced as a simple means to get from one place to another, it evolved into a recreational activity enjoyed by the hardy sort who didn't mind freezing temperatures and hard, body-crushing falls.

Barbara Rimkunas

Ice skating has been around for thousands of years. Although skating was originally practiced as a simple means to get from one place to another, it evolved into a recreational activity enjoyed by the hardy sort who didn't mind freezing temperatures and hard, body-crushing falls.

Exeter is lucky enough to have ample waterways quite suitable for ice skating. Although there is little mention of the sport in early records, it was certainly enjoyed by the early 1900s after the development of strap-on skates. Boys hit the ice to play hockey and girls ventured out with friends to take in some air. The added bonus, of course, was that the boys and the girls usually met.

Marion Tyler notes in her diary in 1909: "Ruth and I went skating, and who should I meet but Mr. Gillis. Had a great time." A year later, when she was 15, the boys were still a draw. "After school B.J. and a lot of others and I went skating. Had packs of fun. We made four boys pull a whole line of us girls. It was great fun."

There were a number of places one could skate in Exeter. Park Street common was often flooded by the town to create a rink, as it still is today. The Seminary Pond was usually available providing the weather was cold enough to freeze the ice deeply. Children on the east side of town frequently skated at the Water Works pond on Portsmouth Avenue, even though the Exeter News-Letter warned them against it. "The Water Works company have forbidden skating or walking on the ice on their pond and offenders will be prosecuted."

If the ponds weren't quite frozen, you could always skate right in the neighborhood. After a quick warm spell in January 1909, the puddled water froze the streets into solid skating rinks. Thirteen-year-old Helen Tufts described the scene on Pine Street: "All ice. Whew! It's cold. Asked Constance Rogers if she would come over and skate. We skated in front of Miss Warren's & Browns a few minutes. Cold." During the course of the next three days, she skated in front of her own house, slid all the way to her piano lesson and tried the ice at both the Gallant and Shute homes. After the street ice melted away, she had thoroughly caught the bug and headed for the best skating in town — the river.

Skating on the river was magical, but it could be quite dangerous. Moving rivers do not freeze solidly but the ice floats over moving water. Warnings were posted frequently such as this notice from January 1908 in the Exeter News-Letter: "Superintendent Gooch wishes to notify parents about the condition of the river where children are skating. The ice is thick enough in the river, but drawing the water from underneath causes it to break away on the sides, leaving many holes. Furthermore, parties are taking ice from the mouth of Little River, leaving the river open. Children are skating there evenings, and it is not safe." What kind of child would skate at night? Teenagers, of course, including the daredevil Marion Tyler, "Ruth and I went moonlight skating. Home at 8:30."

Skating on the river was far more interesting than just going around and around on a pond. It was more like a hike in the woods — a hike where one might find the opposite sex, of course. During Christmas vacation, Marion says, "Ruth and I skated 12 miles up to the rapids." They had such a good time they organized another one with more friends, including boys, for that afternoon. She records no ill effects from 24 miles of skating. Most likely, the teenagers, in the lingo of the day, had "a corking good time."

Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Her column appears every other Friday and she may be reached at exhissoc@verizon.net.

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